Transit.



A. N. BUGKNER. TRANSIT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 190.9.

.Patented 0,611.4, 1910 2f M j A. N. BUGKNER.

TRANSIT. APPLICATION FILED JUNEZ, 1909.

, Patented 00h. 4, 1910.

rus Nanms armas cu., wnsmanm, n. c.

AUGUSTUS N. BUCK'NER, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

TRANSIT.

Application filed June 2, 1909.

.Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ct. et, 19M).

semi No. 499,658.

'lb all whom it may concern:

Be it known that AUGUSTUS N. BUCK- zvrn, citizen of the United States, residing at Birmingham, in the county of Jelferson and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Transits, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention eomprehends certain new and useful improvements in transits, and the invention has for its object an improved device of this character which is simpler and less expensive than the transits in customary use, and which is designed particularly for mechanics use and for other purposes where absolute accuracy is not required, the device being provided with a novel scale which indicates for differentvertical angles the rise or depression for a certain distance running.

A further object of the invention is an improved leveling device that admits of the instrument being quickly and accurately leveled with respect to the stand to compensate for unevenness of the supporting surface.

With these and otherI objects in view that will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions and arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and then point out the novel features of in the appended claims.

For a full understanding1 of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of my improved transit; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line c-a of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a similar view, the section being taken on the line -Z) of Fig. l; Fig. d is a transverse vertical section; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section showing the clamp in operative position; and, Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the links detached.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following` description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

My improved instrument embodies superposed circular plates or platforms l and 2 that are arranged concentrically, the upper plate :2 being relatively smaller than the lower or main plate l and being designed for rotation relative thereto. In the present instance the plate 2 is rotatably mounted on a vertical spindle 3 that upstands from the main plate l and is seated in a central opening 4- in the latter, the opening preferably extending entirely through the main plate and the spindle being rigid with a bottom plate 5 secured beneath the plate l for this purpose. The upper plate 2 is supported upon and movable over blocks 6 provided on the upper face of the main plate to maintain the two plates in the desired spaced relation.

The sighting aplniratus is carried by the upper plate 2 and in the present instance consists essentially of a beam 7 that is fulcrumed at an intermediate point on a bolt 8 in order to turn freely about a horizontal transverse axis. The bolt extends between spaced standards 9 which are attached to the upper face of the plate 2 and which are provided at suitably elevated points with registering openings through which the bolt is passed, one of the openings being threaded for engagement with the extremity of the bolt in order to hold the same against accidental displacement. rlhe head ofthe bolt is preferably winged whereby to admit of its ready manipulation. Stanley sights l0 are secured at the opposite ends of the beam 7, so that the same may be employed in lieu of a telescope.

The vertical position of the beam is read on a protractor scale ll provided at one face of a vertical plate l2 which is carried by one of the standards 9. The zero or base line of this scale extends horizontally and is arranged to correspond with the upper edge of the beam in the horizontal position of the same. Series of oblique lines are arranged above and below the horizontal line and intersect vthe same to lay oft vertical angles of dilferent sizes, the oblique lines being all disposed tangentially with respect to an imaginarv circle described about the fulcrum point of the beam and having a radius equal to the perpendicular distance between the fulcrum point and the base line of the scale.

YVhen the beam is swung upwardly or downwardly about its axis its upper edge is arrafiged to be brought successively into correspondence with the respective oblique lines, the angles between the said oblique line and the base line being thus equa-l to the vertical angle at which the beam is elevated or depressed. The oblique lines are Clt preferably designated by series of numerals which indicate the number of inches rise or depression to one toot running7 for the respective angles.

The beam 7 is held in different vertically adjusted positions by means otl a clamp disposed on the upper portion of the plate 12. This clamp comprises a vertically movable slide 13 which is mounted in a bearing strap 1% and is further guided by headed studs 15 projecting from the plate 12 in proximity to its opposite side edges. A threaded post 1G outstands trom the lower end of the slide and has mounted thereon, an attaching ear 17 upstanding from the middle point ot' an arch-shaped clamping saring 18. The extremitiesl ot' the spring 1S are turned to constitute feet 19 which bear against the upper edge of the beam T at longitudinally spaced points on opposite sides ot' the fulcrum bolt 8. The attaching ear 17 is adapted to turn on the post 16 and is retained on the latter b v a winged nut 20, the nut being designed to be tightened in order to hold the archshaped clamping spring 1S in different positions relative to the slide to conform to the vertical position of the beam. The slide 13 is prevented from moving vertically after the parts of the clamp have been adjusted, by means ot a set screw 21 working in the bearing strap 1-1.

T he periphery of the disk 2 is graduated in degrees, as indicated at 22, tor the purpose ot' measuring horizont-al angles, the measurements being indicated b v a pointer 23 which is carried by a clip 24 embracing the edge oit the main plate 1. Vertical and horizontal set screws 25 are mounted in the clip to admit of the adjustment of the same with respectl to the main plate. One or more guides 26 extend upwardly from the portion ot the main plate that projects beyond the upper plate 2.y and have their upper ends turned inwardly over the latter to insure against the upward displacement ot the same. Screws 2T are mounted in each otl the guides and are adapted to impinge against the upper plate to clamp Vthe same in position.

rhe instrument is mounted on a stand or base 28 that, in the present instance, is in the form of a box-like casing having an open lower end and preferably supported on tripod legs 29, the latter being pivoted between pairs ot ears 30 outstanding from the casing. As best seen in F ig. et, the main plate and stand are connected by a ball and socket joint, the ball 31 being rigidly secured to the bottom plate 5 and being seated in a socket member 32 iitted in the upper end of the casing. A stem 38 is rigid with the ball 31 and depends therefrom and projects through and has play in an opening 34 formed in the bottom ot' the socket member Leading upwardly from the lower end ot the stem are two diametrical slots 35 which intersect substantially at right angles and are provided for the accommodation of crossed links 3G. rlhe links are in the form of rectangular plates and are oppositely and vertically slitted as indicated at 3T, whereby to interlock and bring their upper and lower edges flush with each other. The ends of the links project outwardly beyond the periphery ot the stem and have pairs of adjusting rods andvl) pivoted thereto at their inner ends to turn about transverse horizontal axes.

1t is to be particularly observed that the adjusting rods of each pair are disposed in alinement and are arranged at right angles to the line ot' the rods of the other pair. The rods all lie in the same horizontal plane and project outwardly through horizontal slots 40 in the adjacent sides of the casing and also through slotted plates 11 secured on the exterior of the casing in registry with the said slots. linged nuts L.t2 are threaded on the projecting extremities ot' the rods and are designed to be tightened against the plates 41 to hold the stem against any lateral movement and thereby lock the ball 31 against movement in the socket member By backing oit the nut on one of the adjusting rods ot one of the pairs, say the pair designated 3S, and advancing the nut on the other rod 3S, the stem may be swung laterally in one direction to move the ball in the socket member and effect the adjustment ot the plates 1 and 2 with respect to the stand, as it may be necessary to level the plates in case the tripod placed on uneven ground. pon the said lateral movement oi.l the stem, the adjusting rods 3) slide in the corresponding slots 1t() and plates 11, so as not to inter-tere with the necessary adj ustment. However, should it become necessary to adjust the plates 1 and 2 at right angles to the aforesaid adjustment. this may be conveniently accomplished by operating the nuts on the adjusting rods 39. The slots 4-0 are preferably flared inwardly. as shown in Fig. a, to admit ot' the adjusting rods having a limited turning movement about their pivots during swinging movement ot' the stem.

The links 3G are detachably held in place by a sleeve 43 which is threaded on the lower extremity of the stem below the links and serves to force the latter upwardly against the upper end walls of the slots A cap #t1 screws on the sleeve. This cap is formed with central and side guide openings fte through which is threaded a line 46 having a plumb-bob #17 attached to the lower end thereof. The upper end ot the line passes through the open lower end of the easing and is wrapped about a button or projection t8 provided on the exterior' thereof. By virtue of this arrangement, the line 4G may be conveniently wound and unwound from the button to effect necessary vertical adjustment of the plumb-bob.

ln the practical use of an instrument constructed in accordance with my invention, suppose for instance, it is desired to ascertain the height of a flag pole or some similar object, the device is set up at some distance from the pole and the beam 7 is placed in a horizontal position and sighted at the pole, the level being' suitably marked on the latter. The beam is then swung upwardly and sighted at the top of the pole and the angle of elevation read on the protractor scale l1. Inasmuch as the scale is marked to indicate for the different vertical angles the number of inches rise or fall to one foot running, the height of the pole from the level mark to the top may be readily calculated in inches by multiplying the number of inches rise for the vertical angle by the number of feet in the distance of the instrument from the pole. The total height of the pole is found by measuring the distance of the level mark on the pole above the ground and adding this to the height previously calculated. The manner of using the instrument in measuring horizontal angles will be obvious.

From the foregoing description in con- Anection with the accompanying drawings, it

will be apparent that I have provided an improved transit which is susceptible of various uses and may be advantageously employed in laying out gardens and the like; which is simple and durable in structure and quite accurate; and which is composed of comparatively few parts that may be easily and cheaply manufactured and readily assembled.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed'as new is:

1. A leveling device including a stand, a member adapted to carry an instrument and having a universal joint connection with the stand, the stand being formed with a plurality of openings, a plurality of rods positively connected at one end to the member and radiating therefrom and passing freely through the said openings, and nuts threaded on the free ends of the rods to hold the member in adjusted relation to the stand.

2. A leveling device including a stand, a stem adapted to carry an instrument and having a universal joint connection with the stand, a plurality of rods positively connected at one end to the stem radiating therefrom and arranged in pairs, the rods of each pair being disposed in diametrieal alinement and being positioned at right angles to the rods of the other pair, the stand being formed with openings through which the free ends of the rods pass freely, and nuts working on the free ends of the rods to hold the stem in adjusted relation to the stand, the openings being elongated to afford the rods sliding movement therein by and upon the adjustment of the stem.

3. A leveling device including a stand, a stem adapted to carry an instrument and having a universal joint connection with the stand, the stand being formed with a plurality of openings extending therethrough, a plurality of rods pivotally connected at one end to the stem and radiating therefrom and passing freely through the openings, and nuts working on the free ends of the rods, the said openings being flared to permit the limited turning movement of the rods about their pivots by and upon the adjustment of the stem.

4. A leveling device including a stand, a stem adapted to carry an instrument` and having a universal joint connection `with the stand, links passed transversely through the stem with their ends projecting therebeyond, and rods positively connected at one end to the projecting ends of the links and having adjustable connection at their other ends with the stand.

5. A leveling device including a stand, a stem adapted to carry an ii'istrument and having a universal joint connection with the stand, members rigid with the stem and projecting radially outwardly therefrom at right angles to each other, rods pivotally connected at one end to said members and having adjustable connections at their other ends with the stand.

6. A leveling device including a stand, a stem adapted to carry an instrument and having a universal joint connection with the stand, the stem being formed with :intersecting slots passing transversely therethrough at right angles to each other, and crossed links fitted in the respective slots with their end portions projecting outwardly from the stem, the links being interlocked to be held against withdrawal from the slots, and means connected to the projecting ends of the links for holding the stem in adjusted relation to the stand.

7. A leveling device including a stand, a stem adapted to carry an instrument and having a universal joint connection with the stand, the stem being formed with intersecting slots extending transversely therethrough at right angles to each other and leading from one end of the stem, crossed links inserted longitudinally in the respective slots with their ends projecting beyond the stem, the links being interlocked to be held against lateral displacement from the slots, removable means for holding the links against longitudinal displacement from the slots, and means connected to the projecting ends of the links for holding the stem in adjusted relation to the stand.

8. A leveling device including a stand, a stem adapted to support an instrument and having a universal joint connection with the stand, the stem being formed with intersecting slots passing' transversely therethrough and leading from one end thereof and disposed at right angles to each other7 crossed links adapted to be inserted longitudinally into the respective slots with their end portions projecting outwardly beyond the stem, the links being interlocked to be held against lateral displacement from the slots, a member threaded on the stem for holding the links against longitudinal displacement from the slots, and means connected to the projecting ends of the links for holding the stein in adjusted relation to the stein.

9. A leveling' device includingl a stand, a stem adapted tosupport an instrument and having a universal oint connection with the stand, a plurality of rods radiating from the stein and pivotally connected at one end thereto to turn about axes which are perpendicular to'the length of the stem, the other ends of the rods being adjustably connected to the stand to hold the stem in adj usted relation thereto.

l0. A leveling device including a substantially vertically disposed hollow stand, a stein adapted to support an instrument and mounted within the stand and having a universal joint connection therewith, a plurality of rods positively connected at one end to the stern and radiating therefrom7 the stand being formed in its sides with openings through which the ends of the rods pass freely, and nuts working on the free ends of the rods and bearing against the sides of the stand, the said openings being substantially horizontally elongated to atford the rods lateral sliding movement therein by and upon the adjustment of the stem.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AUGUSTUS N. BUCKNER. lvitnesses G. lV. MCCAN, lV. L. BRYANT. 

